Vehicle ceiling with lighting fixture



May 15, 1962 G. KALT 3,035,161

VEHICLE CEILING WITH LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed June 6, 1960 2O INVENTOR.

(Ii 1 b e r f K0 H w re. SW

A TTORNEY United States PatentO 3,035,161 VEHICLE CEILING WITH LIGHTINGFIXTURE Gilbert Kalt, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to The Budd Company,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 6, 1960,Ser. No. 34,188 15 Claims. (Cl. 240-735) This invention relates to athrough-running structural ceiling beam, duct and light fixture,especially for vehicles such as railway cars, and has for an object theprovision of improvements in this art.

One of the particular objects of the invention is to providethrough-running structural load-carrying ceiling beams which tie thecarlines together on each side of the car.

Another object is to provide ceiling beams which form concealed wiringducts running the length of the vehicle, the ducts being divided intoparallel high-tension and lowtension wire spaces.

Another object is to provide through-running ceiling beams which on theouter side frunish fittings for the reception of fluorescent lamp tubesand a translucent or transparent closure cover therefor.

Another object is to provide through-running ceiling beams which alsofurnish anchorage for ceiling panels, one of which may be curved andprovided with car card advertising receptacles and removable to giveaccess to usable storage or equipment space therebehind.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment,reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a transverse vertical section of the upper portion of arailway car embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section of the left hand portion of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view taken generally on the line 33 of FIG. 1, reduced insize, some parts being omitted and the two sides shown somewhatdifierently.

Herein there is shown the upper part of a portion of the length of arailway car including sidewalls and a roof 11. The sidewall comprisesposts 12 and longitudinal beams 13 and 14; and the roof includescarlines 15 and longitudinally corrugated covering 16. On the sidesthere are bent panels 17 which are secured to brackets 18 and to thesidewalls proper to form the base for a car card support and equipmentenclosure.

The present invention comprehends through-running beams 20, one on eachside which are irregularly shaped to have considerable strength andrigidity to form load bearing members to which the carlines 15 areconnected, as by bolts 21.

The beams may be formed as shaped extrusion members, as of aluminum. Atthe sides they have base elements 20a, 20b which fit against and aresecured to the carlines, placing the intermediate web 200 at a distancefrom the carlines so that the space therebetween is ample to take thewiring and, if need be, some of the piping of the car. Preferably arearwardly extending rib 20d is formed integrally on the extrusion tofurther rigidify it and form a divider between high voltage and lowvoltage wiring cables.

Lamp fixtures 22 for fluorescent lamp tubes are secured to the outersides of the webs 20c.

Along the inboard sides the beams are formed with outstandingprojections 20:: faced on arcs on the outer side to take a center liningpanel 23, the panel being secured by screws 24.

At the outboard sides the beams are formed with running edge extensionportions 20 forming a groove for a removable car card backing plate 25,portion 20g forming a groove for a car card 26, and an overhanginghookedge extension portion 20h providing groove for the lamp cover 27.The cover includes a frame or bezel 27a carrying a transparent ortranslucent enclosure member 271: and is secured at one side by screws28. The frame at one side is provided with a hinge hook edge whichcooperates with the hook groove of portion 20h to allow the cover toswing down, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2.

The outboard edge of the car card backing plate 25 is secured, as byscrews 30, to an extrusion molding 31 which, in turn, is secured to thebent panel 16 in any suitable manner. The molding 31 provides a groovefor the lower edges of the car cards. The plate 25 can be swung down farenough to be completely removed but has a shoulder 25a engaged with anupstanding edge flange at the groove on the portion 20f to preventseparation when secured in position by the screws 30.

It is thus seen that the ceiling beams serve as load carrying membersfor the roof, having all the necessary strength needed beyond thatsupplied by the longitudinally corrugated roof covering; hold theinterior lining panelling in place, carry the cables and wires dividedfor diiferent types; provide support for the lamp fixtures; and providesupport for a removable lamp cover. The car card plate connectionprovided by the beams prevents separation at the edge when the car cardplate is secured in place, no screws or other separate fasteningelements being needed at this edge.

While one embodiment of the invention has been described forillustrative purposes it is to be understood that there may be variousembodiments and modifications within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle roof structural ceiling beam for supporting lightingfixtures, ceiling panels, and car plates comprising an I-beam having onehorizontal web and two vertical webs, an extension on one of said I-beamvertical webs for supporting a car plate, another extension on the otherof said I-beam vertical webs parallel to said horizontal web, a boxchannel having two vertical webs connected to said other extension ofsaid I-beam vertical web by one of said box channel vertical webs, theother said vertical web of said box channel having a lever arm formingan angle bracket for supporting said ceiling panels, and a thickvertical web connected to said other extension between said I-beam andsaid box channel, said thick web forming the mutual web of two invertedbox-channels formed between said I-beam and said box channel forsupporting said lighting fixtures, said channels and said I-beam beinginterconnected into one continuous through-running beam to form a crossbeam of said roof structure.

2. In a vehicle in combination with a roof having carlines and an outerload-bearing roof covering; a throughrunning inner load-bearing beamconnectable to said carlines to form a rigid structure, said beamcomprising two laterally disposed channel base elements which fitagainst said carlines, an intermediate web connecting said base elementsand laterally disposed from said carlines to provide a cable spacetherebehind and a lamp fixture support on the front, an extension on oneof said base elements which provides a grooved support for a card plate;and fastening means for securing said beam rigidly to said carlines atsaid base members.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, characterized by the factthat said extension on said base element is further provided with agrooved suport for a car card.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 2, characterized by the factthat said extension on said base element isfurther provided with apivotal support for a lamp fixture cover frame.

5. The combinationas set forth'in claim 2, characterized by the factsaid web connecting said base elements is further provided with avertical web connected and normal to said intermediate web for dividingsaid cable space and defining a mutual web of two channel structureelements. r

6. The combination as set for the in claim 2, characterized by the factthat an extension is provided on the other said base element forsuporting a ceiling liner.

7; In a vehicle in combination with a roof having carlines and an outerload-bearing roof covering; a throughmnning inner load-bearing beamconnected to said carlines, said beam comprising: two laterally disposedchannel base elements which fit against said carlines, an intermediateweb connecting said base elements being displaced from said carlines toprovide a cable-space therebetween, a vertical web connected and normalto said intermediate web for dividing said cable space and providingchannel structure elements for supporting a lighting fixture, a firstextension on one of said base elements for supporting a ceiling liner, asecond extension on the other said base element for supporting one endof a removable card plate, a third extension on the other said baseelement for supporting one end of a card, a fourth extension'on theother saidbase element for supporting a light cover frame, and fasteningmeans for rigidly connecting said load bearing beam to said carlines atsaid base elements.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7, further characterized by thefact that a light cover frame is provided, and supported by said fourthextension and a screw fastener which connects said frame to said beam atsaid base elements.

9. The combinationasset forth in claim 7, further characterized by thefact that a removable card plate is provided, said plate cooperatingwith said second extension on said base element to slidably fit a groovetherein.

10. In a vehicle in combination with a roof having carlines and an outerload-bearing roof covering, a through-running inner load-bearing beamconnectable to said carlines to form a rigid structure, said beamcomprising: two laterally disposed channel base elements Which fitagainst said car-lines, an intermediate web connecting said baseelements and laterally disposed from said carlines to' provide a cablespace therebehind and a lamp fixture support on the front, an extensionon one of said base elements which provides a support for a card plate;and fastening means for securing said beam to said roof.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 10, further characterized bythe fact that said extension is further provided with a retaining groovefor said card plate and an L-shaped shoulder for locking said card platein said retaining groove.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 10, further characterized bythe fact that said beam is provided with a vertical rib connected on theback of and normal to said web.

-13. The combination asset forth in claim 10, further characterized bythe fact that the other of said base elements is provided with ahorizontal supporting lever for supporting a ceiling liner.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 10, further characterized bythe fact that a frame for supporting a light cover is provided whichattaches to said beam at said base elements.

15. The combination as set forth in claim 10, further characterized bythe fact that a card plate is provided in said card plate supportwhereby said beam and said card plate form a continuous ceiling coverobviating the requirement for ceiling skin sheets and ceiling panelstherebehind.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,533,661 Arenberg et al Dec. 12, 1950 2,587,807 Arenberg et a1 Mar. 4,1952 2,688,072 Zimmerman Aug. 31, 1954

